Former Dorset teacher behind The Penguin Lessons film accused of historic child sexual abuse

[Artaxerxes II]

https://inview.org.uk/news/185596-forme ... xual_abuse

The investigation reveals that Thompson, who taught at the Old Malthouse School in Dorset in the early 1970s, faces allegations from multiple former pupils of serious sexual abuse.

These men, now in their 60s, have come forward for the first time with harrowing accounts of their experiences, alleging that Thompson exploited their vulnerability while they were at the school.

The Old Malthouse School, which closed in 2007, was a remote boarding institution for boys as young as seven. Former pupils describe Thompson as a charismatic and influential figure who allegedly used his position of trust to groom and abuse children.

Thompson left the UK in 1976 and relocated to Argentina, where he continued teaching and rescued a penguin. The film adaptation of his memoir, starring Steve Coogan as Michell/Thompson, described as a ‘charming and life-affirming’ story, is tonight under scrutiny following the revelations broadcast by Channel 4 News.

At the time of its release, Thompson promoted the film widely, including alongside Steve Coogan in an interview on ITV’s This Morning where Coogan says Thompson is a “Good chap … mostly”, to which he replies: “You don’t know me very well.”

“Here was someone being lionized, being filmed, attracting significant celebrities and actors for endorsement doing the rounds of national television when he had a dirty secret.” – ‘Graham’

The investigation hears from three men who say they are prepared to give evidence to the police. Their disclosures include claims of inappropriate touching, exposure to pornography, and sexual assault, some of which were reportedly disclosed to school staff at the time.

In an interview with Cathy Newman, one former student, Richard, says: “I’m going to tell you the last time I went to his room. But this isn’t easy”.

He recalls Thompson saying: ‘I don’t think you can get an erection. You need help with that.’

“And he took his trousers down. And started masturbating in front of me. I’m pretending to be asleep, so my eyes are just like tiny little slits, and I remember him pushing his penis into my face. And at that point, I turned my head around quite quickly, and he said, ‘Have you woken up?’ And I said, ‘I think so’. Even though I was actually drowsy. And he very quickly said, ‘Get yourself dressed. You need to go’.”

Now, after decades staying silent, another former student who we are calling ‘Graham’ tells Channel 4 News that he reported the abuse to police in 2017, two years after Thompson published his memoir. This prompted an investigation and a formal interview with Thompson which ‘Graham’ was told was under caution. Although no charges were brought, ‘Graham’ was later told it would be flagged on enhanced DBS checks.

The revelations have raised serious questions for Penguin Random House, which published ‘The Penguin Lessons’. A spokesperson told Channel 4 News that the publisher is “deeply shocked and surprised by these allegations”, adding “the book was published in 2015, and this is the first time we have been made aware of them.”

“We are deeply shocked and surprised by these allegations. The book was published in 2015, and this is the first time we have been made aware of them.” – Penguin Random House spokesperson.

The publisher has previously faced allegations over misrepresentations in another memoir – The Salt Path – strenuously denied by the author.

There are questions too for the producers of the film – collectively, 42, Nostromo, and Intake Films – in which Thompson is credited as an executive producer.

Channel 4 News understands that Thompson visited the film set on one occasion and for one day. The production companies insist no children were on set that day, and he was accompanied by a producer for the duration of his visit.

The production companies also told Channel 4 News that they hadn’t done background checks on Thompson because he “was not a member of the production team or working on set”.

On his reasons for coming forward now, ‘Graham’ says he “was outraged that here was someone being lionized, being filmed, attracting significant celebrities and actors for endorsement doing the rounds of national television when he had a dirty secret.”

“It was criminal, it was entirely wrong. And it horrifies me to think that…there might be many more [victims]”, he adds.

“I hope that other people see this broadcast and are prepared to approach the police. I hope that the film is withdrawn from circulation and he is denounced by those celebrity actors that got involved.

“It was criminal, it was entirely wrong. And it horrifies me to think that…there might be many more [victims].” – ‘Graham’.

”Survivors are now also calling for Thompson to relinquish any royalties to child abuse charities. “Give all the royalties to child abuse charities. All of them, all of them”, Richard concludes.

Simon’s story

In one of the accounts, one former student, Simon alleges he was just 11 or 12 when Thompson sexually abused him in the school science block, sitting looking out of the window with a book in front of him, with Thompson to his right.

“I can remember that clearly. It’s not the left, it’s the right, and he’s asking me to talk through what it is that I’ve understood, or what he’s saying, and he’s beginning to stroke me and I remember then looking at him. He said, Don’t look at me. Keep your eyes at the front and carry on. So I keep talking, and, you know, I’m getting aroused, and he’s masturbating me basically”, he says.

‘Graham’s’ story

Another former student, coming forward anonymously as ‘Graham,’ says he reported Thompson to the police, and claims that Thompson would oversee group masturbation in dark rooms in the science block.

“I’m going to say it was between 10 and 20 occasions, and he asked for oral sex. I don’t remember feeling abused. I don’t remember feeling dirty. It was just part of the process, part of the group”, he adds.

Richard’s story

A third former student, Richard, recalls being invited onto a yacht with Thompson, confessing to him his deep unhappiness at school before being invited to the teacher’s rooms. He says he was offered tea before being hypnotised. He believes the tea may have been drugged.

“He got a watch out of his pocket, like an old fashioned round one on a chain. And he said in about 10 seconds that I’m going to put you to sleep. And I remember being too sleepy to say no or to do anything about it and I remember him saying, “I’m going to take your trousers down and inspect you.”

He tells Channel 4 News that on this occasion he believes he was touched. He thought at the time he was asleep because this is what happened “after you’ve been hypnotised”.

“It took me about 20 years before I had almost a revelation, and I came to the conclusion that I think I was drugged [in the tea]”, cautioning that he “has no proof”.

He went on: “I’m going to tell you the last time I went to his room. But this isn’t easy. It was: “I don’t think you can get an erection. You need help with that.” And he took his trousers down. And started masturbating in front of me. I’m pretending to be asleep, so my eyes are just like tiny little slits, and I remember him pushing his penis into my face.

Richard says that after this alleged assault he started experiencing night terrors and confided in the matron, an intervention that he believes would prove pivotal.

Asked whether he believes Thompson was later dismissed as a result of his disclosure, he said: “Yes, I do. Yes I do.”

Full statements from those referenced in this investigation

In a statement to Channel 4 News, Mr Thompson, said: “These deplorable claims are without substance and emphatically denied. A version of [Graham’s] false story was dismissed by the police in 2017. If these individuals were abused fifty years ago, they have my sympathy, but it was not me who was responsible.

“A spokesperson for Penguin Random House, said: “We are deeply shocked and surprised by these allegations. The book was published in 2015, and this is the first time we have been made aware of them.”

The production companies for The Penguin Lessons adaptation, collectively, 42, Nostromo, and Intake Films, said: They hadn’t done any background checks because Thompson “was not a member of the production team or working on set”. They confirmed he’d visited the set once but “no children were on set that day” and no concerns had been raised about Thompson during filming and promotion.

Channel 4 News approached Steve Coogan’s management but they declined to comment. Channel 4 News has also approached Lionsgate for comment.